Give thanks

Source: interruptingthesilence.com

"Jesus asked, 'Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?'" - Luke 17:17-18 (NIV)

Think back to all of the good things that have happened in your life. Maybe you just got married, or had a baby. Maybe you just landed a great job in an economy that is still having some issues. Maybe despite everything going on, you're stil healthy and thriving.

If that is the case, then like or not, you have been blessed mightily by God. The Bible teaches that God does bless us spiritually (see Ephesians 1:3) and on occasion, materially, particularly if you're generous yourself (see Deuteronomy 15:10). God is able to bless us because He is also in control of the world, whether we acknowledge it or not (see Proverbs 19:21, Ephesians 1:11-12, Psalm 22:28).

So what should we do in response to being blessed? We should give thanks where it is due. The Bible has at least 46 verses that say we should give thanks to God where it is due. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told to "give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." Psalm 107 begins with "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; His love endures forever." (Psalm 107:1), and later states,

"Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things." - Psalm 107:8-9 (NIV)

In the story with the verse listed at the beginning of this article, Luke records Jesus having just healed 10 men of leprosy, having told them to go the priest to get cleansed (Luke 17:14). However, of the 10, only one of them, returns to Jesus to praise Him.  Jesus ended his healing with,

"Rise and go; your faith has made you well." - Luke 17:19 (NIV)

So the question is, do we give thanks to God where it is due?